MILAN (AP) – The Italian data protection authority said on Friday that TikTok would impose an immediate block on access to data for any user whose age has not been verified.
Authorities say it is acting with “urgency” following the death of a 10-year-old girl in Sicily, who died while taking part in a so-called ‘blackout’ challenge while using the social network shared by the Chinese word.
Prosecutors in Sicily are investigating the case.
The data protection authority noted that in December, TikTok notified a series of violations, including little attention to the protection of minors, the ease with which users under the age of 13 can enter the platform – against its own rules – the lack of transparency. in information provided to users and the use of automated settings that do not respect privacy.
“While waiting for a response, the authorities have decided to take action to ensure the immediate protection of minors in Italy registered on the network,” the authorities said in a statement.
The block will remain open until at least February 15, when further evaluations will be conducted.
TikTok introduced some enhanced privacy features earlier this month for users under 18, including a new standard private setting for accounts with users aged 13 to 15. The new practices, which affect users around the world, were followed by US regulators to order TikTok and other social media services to publicize how their practices affect children and teens.